Home to Harper
Ari entered the kitchen, setting her keys in the bowl by the fridge. She turned, watching Harper cut fruit at the kitchen island. Walking up behind her, resting her face on Harper’s shoulder, Ari reached for a slice of kiwi.
“Ouch.” Ari snapped.
“Wash your hands.”
“Am I five now?”
“Yes. Wash your hands.”
Ari walked to the sink, running her palms under the shower of warm water. She leaned into the sensation, tilting her head back, and closing her eyes. “Something tells me that isn’t exactly true.” She could hear the words. A dark silhouette hovered in her thoughts. She wrung her hands together, pressing against the water. Ari shut off the faucet and dried her hands while watching Harper move into the sitting room with her fresh-cut fruit.
“Mind if I sit here?” Ari asked rhetorically as she lifted Harper’s feet to sit under them.
Harper sat the plate of freshly cut fruit on the coffee table. “Tell me. What was all the 007 about today? I thought you were having lunch with the Senator?”
“I did have lunch with the Senator. It went horribly as usual.”
“I’m sure it did not. You always say that.”
“Because it always does. You weren’t there…”
“I never am.” Harper interjected. “Did you tell her?” She continued.
Ari shifted under Harper’s feet, “Tell herrrr?”
“About the center? Does she know you’re the new program manager at the center?”
“Oh. No,” Ari shrugged. “I’m a coward.”
Harper threw a wedge of apple at Ari’s forehead. “Brat would have been a better word.”
“But, I’m your brat.” Ari leaned in with the slice of apple between her lips. Harper lifted to meet Ari’s offering and drew in the slice, kissing lightly. Ari pulled Harper’s thigh up around her waist, leaning in once more. She was met with a sharp point against her temple.
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.” Harper wagged her finger. “I asked you a question, young lady.” Ari fell back against the couch, pouting. “What happened today?”
Ari placed Harper’s feet back on the floor, moving over to the entertainment system to turn on the PlayStation. She grabbed two controllers and chucked one over to Harper who caught it in midair.
The screen came alive with the blaring colors and shrilling sounds of Mortal Kombat. Ari made her way back to the couch in a slump. She buzzed her way through the menus selecting a one on one fight. Ari as player one chose the bright blue character surrounded by a windy chill. The speakers were overtaken by an ominous voice which bellowed, “Sub-Zero,” followed by a deep clanging sound. Harper sped through the thirty-some odd characters to get to the dark green shreds draped over a voluptuous brown-skinned villain. The speakers boomed, “Jade.” And with another deep clanging, their fight began.
As their characters round-housed and jump-kicked from one side of the screen to the next, Ari glossed over the afternoon in her head looking for the best place to start.
“The Senator was chastising me today, as usual. Not sure why she and I even pretend to like each other.”
“You know your mother loves you.”
“I know my mother loves the idea of me.” Ari blurted, sinking lower into the couch.
“Sub-Zero Wins, Round 2. Fight!” boomed from the sound system.
“Thomas had some kind of fire for her to put out so she rushed off to handle that. But! Not before slapping me with an errand to run. She pulls out this folder and tells me to drop it off.”
“Jade Wins. Round 3. Fight!” The system cut in.
“Drop it off where?” Harper asked clutching her controller as she executed a complex combo.
“To Laurin.”
“Finish Him!” The system roared.
Ari dropped her controller on the floor, preparing for the question she knew was coming.
“You went to Laurin’s office today? That’s where you were when I called you?”
“Yes.”
“How did that go?” Harper’s voice was sincere but apprehensive.
“It went. She was all calm and condescending. I just…” Ari turned to look at Harper.
“…hated seeing her?” Harper asked.
“Yea. I tried leaving the folder with the receptionist but she spotted me and pulled me into her office before I could get out.”
Harper surveyed Ari with caution, roaming from her hands to her lips, back to her eyes. Ari made no immediate moves. They both sat in momentary silence.
“Well, you survived. Put today behind you and move on.” Harper slid into Ari’s lap. She took Ari’s face in her hands and kissed her face. “I love you, Zero.”
“I love you, Jade.” Ari placed her hand at the small of Harper’s back as they kissed. She moved them along her side then under her shirt.
“Your hands are cold. How is that?”
Ari looked puzzled. “No clue.”
She pulled her hands down to Harper’s waist and pushed into her body. They lingered over one another, up and down, writhing.
Ari pulled away moving away the red hair over Harper’s. Harper leaned against Ari’s shoulder. “Ari,” she whispered. “Tell me what happened.”
There it was. She wanted to give Harper answers but the idea of opening herself up to that day, years ago, was overwhelming. The wound felt fresh. The day ran through her mind all over again. She could feel the frustration welling up inside and took a long breath. Ari rubbed a thumb against Harper’s open palm. “I can’t. Not right now.”
“Please.”
“Harper,” Ari took Harper by the waist, rolled her to the side and stood to her feet. “No. Let’s please drop this.” She hesitated, “I’m going to bed.”Harper registered the echo of the sound system which had been looping the game intro. Fight! She picked up the controllers and returned them to the entertainment system shelf. She turned off the game and looked around. For what, she wasn’t sure. In surrender, Harper dropped back down on the couch in frustration. With the tips of her fingers, she grazed the dry, cracked skin over her left leg, sitting in silence with her thoughts.
